Iceland’s famous Blue Lagoon evacuated as volcano erupts for 3rd time

Iceland’s famous Blue Lagoon evacuated as volcano erupts for 3rd time

A volcano in southwestern Iceland erupted on Thursday for the third time since December, sending jets of lava into the sky and triggering the evacuation of the Blue Lagoon spa, one of the island country’s biggest tourist attractions. The eruption began at about 1 a.m. ET along a three-kilometre fissure northeast of Mount Sýlingarfell, the Icelandic Meteorological … Read more

Ottawa may ‘rein in’ temporary resident numbers as housing concerns intensify, minister says

Ottawa may ‘rein in’ temporary resident numbers as housing concerns intensify, minister says

Immigration Minister Marc Miller says he’ll be scrutinizing the number of international students and other non-permanent residents coming into Canada, as political tension builds around the interplay between housing affordability and immigration. In an interview airing Sunday on Rosemary Barton Live, Miller said the relationship between housing and immigration is complex, and it was discussed around … Read more

After a tough year, Aritzia banks on U.S. expansion to keep growth humming

After a tough year, Aritzia banks on U.S. expansion to keep growth humming

Improved financial performance at Vancouver-based retailer Aritzia sent the company’s stock soaring on Thursday morning by more than 20 per cent, though some experts warn the company isn’t out of the woods after a challenging year saw the company’s red-hot hype start to simmer down.  The clothing chain announced its latest quarterly earnings on Wednesday after … Read more

Israel’s allies warn against displacing Palestinians in Gaza to places like Canada

Israel’s allies warn against displacing Palestinians in Gaza to places like Canada

Countries traditionally aligned with Israel are warning its right-wing government against contemplating a displacement of people who live in the Gaza Strip, as Israeli officials repeatedly suggest Canada could take in Palestinians. This week, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said his country should “encourage migration” of Palestinians from Gaza and re-establish Israeli settlements there, echoing similar … Read more

2023 was a banner year for video games — and video game industry layoffs

2023 was a banner year for video games — and video game industry layoffs

The past calendar year has been a banner one for best-selling, critically acclaimed video games. Blockbuster titles like Alan Wake 2, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 and Super Mario Bros. Wonder headlined a year full of critically acclaimed games that sold tens of millions of copies. But behind the screens, the games industry has been in a dramatic … Read more

Mastermind Toys customers warned to use gift cards by Dec. 24 as company is set to change hands

Mastermind Toys customers warned to use gift cards by Dec. 24 as company is set to change hands

Mastermind Toys shoppers have less than a week to redeem store gift cards.  The Canadian toy retailer announced earlier this month that it had signed an asset purchase agreement with Unity Acquisitions Inc.  Mastermind filed for creditor protection under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (CCCA) on Nov 24. Customers are now being told their gift cards will not be honoured … Read more

As U.S., U.K. and EU sanction violent Israeli settlers, Canada hangs back

As U.S., U.K. and EU sanction violent Israeli settlers, Canada hangs back

The Trudeau government still won’t say if it’s considering imposing sanctions on violent Israeli settlers in the wake of travel bans announced by both the U.S. and the United Kingdom in recent days. The European Union’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, said last week that he will recommend EU sanctions as well.  Canada, like its American, British … Read more

U.S., Canada to join multi-national operation to counter attacks on commercial ships in Red Sea

U.S., Canada to join multi-national operation to counter attacks on commercial ships in Red Sea

The United States, Canada and a host of other nations are creating a new force to protect ships transiting the Red Sea that have come under attack by drones and ballistic missiles fired from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, U.S. Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin announced early Tuesday in Bahrain. The seriousness of the attacks, several of … Read more

BP pauses Red Sea shipments as another commercial vessel is attacked near Yemen

U.S., Canada to join multi-national operation to counter attacks on commercial ships in Red Sea

A Norwegian-owned vessel was attacked in the Red Sea on Monday in a strike that U.S. officials said originated from Yemeni territory controlled by the Iran-aligned Houthi movement. The attack on the M/V Swan Atlantic was the latest in a series on ships sailing the sea since the start of the Gaza war. There was … Read more